a first experiment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a first experiment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the initial trial or test of a particular hypothesis or procedure in a scientific or experimental context. Example: "In our research, we conducted a first experiment to determine the effects of the new drug on patient recovery times."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In a first experiment, with 283 people, only 1 percent asked for a smaller portion of a starchy side dish when none was explicitly offered.

The New York Times - Health

As a first experiment, the watermarked images undergo AWGN attacks.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

A first experiment was conducted in August 2013.

Energy Procedia

In a first experiment, the number of relevant features is and.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

In a first experiment, two experimental conditions were tested for the chelates.

Cancer Nanotechnology

A first experiment targeting comfort levels comparable to the reference period lowered consumption by one-third.

Energy and Buildings

Finally a first experiment is made to compare the model with a real case.

Electronic Notes in Theoretical Computer Science

The newly designed setup is described and experimental results from a first experiment are shown.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

In a first experiment of its kind, scientists compared humans and dogs when looking at everyday scenes.

Science Magazine

A first experiment involves an excitation at an acoustic resonance and induces a weak plate cavity coupling.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

In a first experiment, focus is on the blur measures if being applied to the image textures.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When documenting scientific research, use "a first experiment" to clearly indicate the initial stage of your investigation. This helps in distinguishing it from subsequent experiments and provides a clear chronological context.

Common error

Avoid using "a first experiment" when referring to repeated trials or iterations of the same experiment. If you are describing multiple experiments, clearly differentiate each one (e.g., "the second experiment", "the third trial").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a first experiment" functions as a noun phrase that introduces and identifies the initial stage of an experimental process. It provides context and clarifies the sequence of actions within a study. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

86%

News & Media

6%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a first experiment" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that denotes the initial phase of a scientific investigation. As Ludwig AI confirms, its correct usage is widespread across various contexts, particularly within the sciences. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the beginning of an experimental process to avoid confusion with subsequent trials. Remember to clearly distinguish it from other experiments in a series by using appropriate ordinal numbers. While alternatives such as "an initial trial" or "the preliminary study" exist, "a first experiment" remains a precise and effective way to introduce your initial research efforts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an initial trial

Focuses on the trial aspect, highlighting the act of testing something for the first time.

the preliminary study

Emphasizes the study aspect, referring to an early-stage investigation.

an exploratory investigation

Highlights the investigative nature of the initial experiment, focusing on exploration.

a pilot experiment

Uses the term "pilot", suggesting a small-scale preliminary experiment.

the opening test

Emphasizes the test aspect, indicating that it's the first in a series of tests.

the inaugural attempt

Highlights the act of attempting something for the first time, often in a formal context.

the maiden voyage

Metaphorically refers to the first attempt, similar to a ship's first journey; less literal.

an early study

Focuses on the temporal aspect, referring to a study conducted in the early stages of research.

the initial run

Emphasizes the execution or running of the experiment for the first time.

a baseline assessment

Highlights the purpose of establishing a baseline for future comparisons.

FAQs

How can I use "a first experiment" in a sentence?

You can use "a first experiment" to introduce the initial stage of research, such as: "In "a first experiment", we aimed to determine the effects of temperature on plant growth."

What are some alternatives to saying "a first experiment"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "an initial trial", "the preliminary study", or "a pilot experiment".

When is it appropriate to use "a first experiment" versus "the first experiment"?

"A first experiment" is appropriate when introducing the concept generally, or when there are multiple series of experiments. "The first experiment" is used to refer to a specific experiment that has already been mentioned or is uniquely identifiable.

Is "a first experiment" formal enough for academic writing?

Yes, "a first experiment" is suitable for academic writing as it clearly and concisely indicates the initial phase of a study. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.